Animals perish in Critter Cabana fire

Several animals died in a two-alarm fire at a Critter Cabana pet shop that housed everything from pythons and chinchillas to dogs and cats.

Shop owner Brittani Johnson said fire crews and volunteers started pulling out as many animals and reptiles as they could after the fire broke out on First Street in Newberg around 7:30 a.m.

Johnson said Winston the tortoise was the first one pulled out of the shop by firefighters. There were several other turtles, hundreds of fish, at least one ferret, four cats, four puppies and many other animals inside the shop.

Much of the animal life, firefighters said, did not survive the fire.

"My neighbor came pounding on my door at 7:45 this morning," Johnson said.

Johnson said she doesn't know what caused the fire at her shop, located in the 500 block of East First Street.

Crews managed to stamp out the flames, but the shop appeared to sustain significant damage. Local vets and animal control responded to the scene to help firefighters.

There were no injuries to any people.

A second fire broke out at SP Newsprint off Wynooski Road. Firefighters said it was unrelated to the fire at Critter Cabana.

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